Door latch



Nov. 9 1926. 1,605,989

B. A. RUCKER DOOR LATCH Filed Nov. 28 1925 Patented Nov. 9,1926.

UNITED STATESv IBENJAIVIIN A. BUCKER. OF BEDFORD, VIRGINIA.

DOOR LATCH.

Application filed November 28, 1925. Serial No. 71,951.

. This invention relates to door latches, and .more particularly to aquickly releasable latch for doors of theatres, public buildings, andthe like.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction in which therelease of the latch is controlled by a bar of appreciable lengthextending across the door at a convenient height to be grasped by the 1:arson desiring to open the door.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter which is of simple construction and which may be readilyandeasily attached to any door.

In the accompanyingr drawings, I have shown several embodiments of theinvention. In this showing:

Figure 1. is a front elevation of the inner side of the door showing oneform of the invention applied,

Figure 2'is a plan view of the latch removed from the door, y

Figure 3 is a perspective view, y ,i

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is in elevation of a portion of Aa door showing another form ofthe invention,

Figurej 6 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on line 6-6 ofFigure 5,

Figure 7 is anelevation ofa portion of a door showing another form ofthe invention. and, i

Figure 8 is a horizontal vsectional view on line .8-8 of Figure 7. e

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the'drawings, the reference numeral 1designates a door of ordinary construction and 2 rep-` resents a door.-jamb arranged at the free side of the door. A keeper-3 is mounted onthe door jamb land is provided with an opening for the reception of thelatch bolt. l A plate 4 is adapted to be secured to the door, the platebeing provided with suitable openings 5 for the reception Vof tasteningelements. vAdjacent theiree end of the door, the plate is provided withan upturned end 6 having an opening therein and an earv 7 is arrangedintermediate the ends of the plate and provided with an opening in'alinement with the opening in the end 6. A latch bolt 8 is arrangedinthese `openings. I he latch bolt is provided with the usual beveledend 9. Between theupturned end 6r and the ear 7, the latch bolt issurrounded' byl a' coil spring, 10 which is rethe plate.

tained in position by means of a` pin 11. The bolt is extended to apoint beyond the other end oi the plate and is connected .to the plateby means of a link 12 passing through a sleeve 18 formed on the end ofthe bolt. The ends ofv the ,li-nk vare laterally offset, as at 14, andare adapted to be receivedv in curled end portions 15 formed on theplate 4 to hingedly connect the link to In the form of the inventionlshown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, the plate 4 is employed y.butin connection therewith, I employ a latch bolt 16 of slightly greaterlength than the distance betweenI the offset end 6 and the ear 7. Thisbolt is surrounded by a coil spring 17. An operating member 18 isarranged slightly spaced from the plate 4 and is connected to the rearend of the bolt by means of a link 1 9.' The fo-r.

' with a curved forward end 23 which is connected to the bolt. The rearend of the operating memberV is connected to the means of'afl link 24.

In the dperation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4yof the drawings, the bolt 8 is normally disposed at an angle to theplate 4 with the bolt projected by means of the'spring. 10, as shown indotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. When pressure is` appliedtoythe bolt to 'move it from the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 ofthe drawings, to the full line position, the bolt and'link 12 assume theposition shown substantially parallel to the plate 4, withdrawing-theoperating end of the bolt from the keeper and permitting the door to beopened. As shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the opening in the ear 7is enlarged suiiiciently to permit this langular movement of the bolt.

plate by `In the form of the invention shown iny Figures 5 and 6 of thedrawings, pressure applied to the operating member 18 in the directionindicated by the arrow causes 'the links 20 and 2l to swing about theconnections to the plate 4 as pivots and the jlink 19 then exerts arearward pull on the bolt to v.retract it against the tension of thespring.`

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings,the operation is essentially the same and as the operating member 22moves toward the left and tends to assume a position over the plate4,.the bolt is retracted. In 'each form of the invention, the spring 10or 17 is compressed when the latch bolt is retracted and as .soon as thepressure is removed from the bolt or operating member, the. pressureprojects'the bolt and causes it to engage the keeper when the door isagain closed.

It is 'to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size, and. arrangement of parts maybe` resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope ofthe subjoined claims;

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a plate adapted to besecured to a closure and extend transversely thereof throughout aportion of its width, a bolt slidably mounted on said plate,' means fornormally projecting said bolt, a link pivotally connected to the rearend of said plate, and an operating member pivotally connected to saidlink and connected to said bolt and being adapted to retract said boltupon the operation thereof in one direction.

2. In a device of the character described,

a plate adapted to be secured to a door and -extend transversely thereofthroughout substantially its entire length, a bolt slidably i I mountedon said plate, means for projectber to the ends of said plate, and alink con.v

nected to said operating member intermediate its ends and to said bolt.

ing said bolt, an operating member arranged In testimony whereof, Ialiix my signa-

